Warp stop motion for weaving looms and other textile machines



Sept. 1, 1953 R. ROBIN WARP STOP MOTION FOR WEI-WING LOOMS AND OTHER TEXTILE MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 17. 1948 In ire/1 far F70 6! F0 (9 7) AWa/wv R. ROBIN WARP STOP MOTION FOR WEAVING LOOMS AND OTHER TEXTILE MACHINES Sept. 1, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet? Filed April 17, 1948 Patented Sept. 1, 1953 WARP STOP MOTION FOR WEAVING LooMs AND orHEa TEXTILE MAonrNEs Reger ltobin, Lorm ais on, France, assignor to Socite: Maison Neyret, Paris, France, a French company Application April 17, 1948, Serial No. 21,635 In France December 29, 1947 17 Claims. (01. 139 -352) The present invention relates to warp stop motion for weaving looms and other textile machines.

It is known that in the textile industry use is made, either on weaving looms or on machines used preparatory to weaving, of devices called warp stop motionswhich are intended to stop the machine when one of the .warp threads breaks.

The warp stop motions generally-usedpomprise small separate elements (blades or springs) provided with an eyethrough which is threaded one of the warp threads being worked.

This element is held ina certain position when the thread remains normally tensioned, and as soon as the thread breaks, the element falls through its own weightcausingan electric relay to stop the machine.

Since the warps in operation generally comprise several thousand threads, it will'be readily understood that the threadingof a corresponding quantity of separate warp stops every time the warp is changed is a long and delicate operation and that a reliable functioning of a multitude of similarblades orelements is always delicats to obtain.

The present invention has for its main object to provide a new and improved warp stop motion for weaving looms or other textile material machines in which threads form a warp, which will avoid the difficulties outlined above and which is simple in structure and reliable in operation.

The invention also hasfor its object to provide a loom or other textile machine comprising such a warp stop motion.

According to the invention the warp stop motion comprises pickup means extending over the entire width of the warp and adapted to seize the end of one of the two sections of any broken thread in said warp and to's tretch said section obliquely to the plane of the warp and auxiliary means operatively connected to the controlling means for the supply of the prime mover of the machine and so arranged with respect to the warp that the section of any broken thread, when tensioned outside thewarp by saidlp'ickup means, causes said controlling means to. operate in direction for stopping said prim e moverand machine.

Other features and objects, of the invention will become apparentfromthe ensuingdescription.

In the accompanying drawings which aregiven by way of example:

Fig. 1 is a sideview inthe position of normal 2 operation, of a weaving loom equipped with a warp stop motion according to the invention;

Fig. 21s a front sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view showing the warp stop motion in its position for stopping the motor, after the breaking of a warp thread;

Fig. ,4 is a perspective view ofthe group of contactors;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section along the line 5 --i of Fig. 6 of the pickup roller for the broken warp thread;

Fig. 6 is a corresponding end view thereof;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of Va portion of a modification of the roller;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on the line 8- -8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of the invention.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the frame I of 'the'loom carries on the upper part thereof, two brackets 2 in which is journalledat 3 a warp beam 4. From said warp beam a sheet of warp threads 5 unwinds. After passing over a deflecting roller 6, said warp threads extend, in the shape of a flat sheet ab, towards a horizontal line located at b'where the cloth is formed in the known manner and by means of the usual weavingmech'anismnot shown. The sheet I of clothis wound on .a cloth roller 8, the journals 9 of which aresupported. for example, by brackets l0.

The warp beamA and the journals 9 are rotarily driven by an electric motor II which, by means of a belt [2, drives a pulley l3 keyed on a shaft 14. Said shaft is connected:

On the lone hand to the warp beam 4, for example, by means of a worm l5 meshing with a pinion i6 keyed on a' vertical shaft H which drives the warp beam A by means of a worm l8 and a worm wheel liij On the other hand to .one of the journals 9 of the clothlroll'er fiyfor examplaby means of a worm 20. and a wheel .21.

Behind the sheet db of warp threads, before the region I) in which' the cloth is formed, is arranged a horizontal pickup. roller 22 supported by twojournals 2L3. saidjournals 23 are mounted loose in one of the limbs of two V-shaped rocking levers 24. Said levers are keyed on a horizontal shaft ,25 which is journalled in two bearings 26 ofthefram l. The other limb of each rocking lever is provided with a wheel 21. A retracting spring 28 fixed at 2 9.to the frame and at 3'0.t.o. one 'of .Ytherockingle'vers 24, tends to,

pull the two levers 24 in the direction of the arrow f (Fig. 1) thus keeping the wheel 21 in contact with an eccentric cam 3| which constrains said levers to rock in the opposite direction to the arrow f against the action of the retracting spring 28. The amplitude of the oscillations of the rocking levers is such that at the end of the movement towards the left (Fig. 1) the roller 22 bears against the sheet ab of warp threads along the horizontal line indicated at 0.

Cam 3| is driven with a continuous rotary movement, For this purpose, it is keyed together with a pinion 32, on a shaft 33 supported by the frame and the pinion 32 meshes with a worm 34 supported by the shaft l4.

In addition to its oscillatory movements, the pickup roller 22 effects a continuous rotary movement about its axis, in the direction of the arrow F, in the following manner, for example. On the transverse shaft i4 is keyed a worm 65 meshing with a pinion 36 mounted loose on shaft 25 and secured to a bevel pinion 31 with which it is integral for example. Said pinion 3'| meshes with a pinion 38 keyed on the end of a shaft 46 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 4| of levers 24. On the other end of said shaft 46 is keyed a bevel pinion 42 meshing with a pinion 43 keyed on one of the journals 23 of the roller 22.

Said pickup roller 22 is so arranged as to enable any warp thread which is broken in the sheet ab to be attached to the outer surface of said roller. For this purpose, said roller, as shown in Figs. and 6, may be externally covered with velvet 44 or with spinning mill plush or with any other material able to cause the adherence of the warp threads.

Above the roller 22, parallel to its axis and over the entire width of the warp, rocking feelers are arranged side by side forming the movable contacts of electric contactors. Said feelers comprise a set of wire stirrups 46 (Fig. 4) which are pivotally connected by means of loops 4'! to a metallic rod 48 which is electrically insulated from its supports. Each of said stirrups which are generally U-shaped have a transverse portion 49, so as to form a step 49 and a corresponding projecting portion 49 complementary to step 49 of a following element. As seen from the front the stirrup therefore form a sort of fretwork in such a manner that any vertical plane such as :m: at right angles to the rod 48 necessarily intersects one of the stirrups, even if it is located at azm in the space between the adjacent pivotally connected limbs of two stirrups.

Behind the group of stirrups 46, parallel to the rod 48, is arranged a horizontal connecting bar 50 which is electrically insulated from its supports and placed in such manner that when the stirrups normally hang by gravity, said stirrups do not touch said bar.

As can be seen, stirrups 46 form, together with bar 56, a set of parallel connected contactor elements, said contactors being intended to control the supply of motor II. For example, said motor is directly connected by a line 5| to one of the terminals of a socket 52 adapted to be connected to an external power supply (not shown), and by another line 53 to the other terminal of "said socket, but through a switch 54. The contact arm 55 of said switch is returned to its contact stud by a spring 56; arm 55 is adapted. to be moved away from said stud by the coil of a relay 57. Said coil is directly connected to one of the terminals of the socket 52 by a line 58 and is connected to the other terminal by the set of coritactor elements 46, said coil being connected by the line 59 to the bar 56, whereas the rod 48 is connected by the conductor 60 to the socket 52.

The device operates as follows: In normal operation, the sheet of warp threads moves along ab from a towards b; the roller 22 revolves continuously about its axis in the direction of the arrow f and, at each revolution of cam 3|, the levers 24 rock in the opposite direction to the arrow i and the pickup roller 22 comes into contact with the sheet of threads ab without said roller having anyaction on the threads.

But, as soon as .a warp thread breaks between the line b and the line 0 of intermittent contact between the roller 22 and the sheet ab, the broken thread section which is located towards a and therefore towards the warp beam, relatively to the break, is seized by the plushy surface of the roller 22. As said roller rotates, the broken thread winds on the roller 22 and thereby, so to speak, instantly assumes a more oblique position such that it encounters the stirrup 46 which is located opposite it. Said stirrup should rock and move to 46' (Fig. 3) into contact with connecting bar 56, the broken thread moving to the position shown at ade. It is desired to stress the fact that whatever thread may be broken, the section ade will always be able to rock the stirrup 46, even if said thread is located in a transverse vertical plane such as xsc (Fig. 4) due to the fretwork formed by the stirrups. Due to the contact between one of the stirrups and the connecting bar 50, the relay 5'! is energized and thereby opens the switch 54 against the action of its return spring and automatically stops the motor H and the loom, enabling the operator to tie the two sec tions of the broken warp thread together.

Experience shows that warp threads generally break adjacent to the line b of operation, but, even if by chance, the threads were to break between a and b, the operation of the warp stop motion could be relied upon, since it is known that the section located towards the warp beam of a broken thread normally continues to follow the sheet until it reaches 12, so that even in this case, the thread would be seized by the roller 22.

In Figs. 7 and 8, a modification of the pickup roller 22 has been shown, in which said roller, which is hollow, is provided with a set of longitudinal slits 6|, whereas its internal cavity 62 is connected, through a longitudinal hole 63 provided in one of the journals 23, to a source of vacuum (a suction fan for example). In such case, the broken thread is held pressed against the roller 22 by the centripetal suction of air through the slits 6|, so as to enable it to wind on said roller.

Naturally, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments illustrated and described which have only been chosen by way of example.

In the example illustrated, the pickup roller 22 is located, taking into account the obliquity of the warp, in the portion ab above the sheet (on the right in Fig. 1), but it could just as well be located on the other side (on the left in Fig. 1).

On the other hand, it has been assumed that the portion ab of the Warp is located in an invariable plane and that the roller 22 effects a reciprocating movement and comes into contact with the warp in order to seize any broken thread. But, it is known that in some looms the sheet ab effects a reciprocating movement about a owing to the operation of the device forming the cloth at b.- In this 'case, the rotary roller 22 may prise a plurality of separate motors supplied in parallel or in series through the contact 54.

The movement of "the pick up roller 22 towards and away fromthe sheet of threads can also be obtained "by merely rotatably mounting said roller 2-2 -"(Fi g. "9 on eccentric journals 64, "and driving it "by the shaft through "a driving belt 65; said journals 6i rotate in a support (not shown) fastened on any'par't o'f 'the frame I.

-iiavinig, now described my invention what'I claim as new and des'ire to secure =by'Letter's Patemi s: 1

1. In a textile machine, means for guiding a bank of parallel "threads in a common plane, means for feeding said threads past said guiding means, means for controlling the operation of said feeding means, arotary thread pick up roller extending "over the "whole width of said bank, means for operatively connecting said pick up roller with said feeding means, an operative -con nection'betwe en said pick up roller and said guiding means, wherebysaid pick up roller and guiding means have a-relative reciprocating motion between'a pick up position'inwhich said pick up rolleris adapted to'engagethe'threads of said bank, and another positionin which said pick up roller is remote from said'bankanddefiects any picked-up broken thread fromsaid common plane, 'ieeler means in the path of any deflected thread, adapted'to move in response to the tension exerte'd thereon by a 'de'fiectedthread, and an operative connectiOn betWeen said-fee1er means and said controlling means forstoppingsaidfeeding 'me'ansupon'movement of saidfeeler means.

*2."-Ina textile machine as claimed in claim 1,

as'ource of vacuum, *a'hollow pick up roller connected to said source of vacuum, perforation on 'the periphery of *sai'dpidk 'up roller, whereby the broken thread is pressed against the outer surface of said roller loythe inward suction.

'3. htextile machine as claimed-in claim 1 hav- =ing a machine "frame' and bearings fixed to said frame, whe'rcin -gui'ding means provided to imi'part 'a reciprocating' motion'to said'pick up roller relative "to "said bank of thread, comprise an oscillating frame, =j ournals" fixed to said oscillat- -ing framean-d restingon the-bearings 'fixed to the ma'chine'frame, a rotary cam,-a cam-follower -connected to said oscillating frame, and sprin means for urging said camfollower'on said cam.

4." In a -teXti-le machine, a prime mover comprising an electric motor. means for guiding a bankof threads in a -common, plane, means for feeding said threads ,past said ,guiding means, means forcontrollingtheoperationof said feeding-mea'ns, a rotary ickup roller extending over the wholewidth-of-said hanksmems for opera! tively connecting-said pi'ck -iip roller with said feedingrmeansan operativenonnection between sai pick p roller "and sai seuidine mean whereby said pick up roller and guiding means have a relative reciprocating'motion between a ick up-posit-ion-in which'said pick up roller is adapted-to engage the threa-ds of said bank and another position in which said pick up roller is remote from said bank of threads and deflects any picked up broken thread from said common plane, controlling means for the supply of power to said electric motor comprising a switch, .a relay controlling said switch and a set of parallel connected contactors in the feeding circuit of said relay and disposed along a line .close and parallel to the "bank of threads so that they are all normally in open circuit position, one of them being set in closed circuit position when a broken thread is deflected from said common plane of the bank, whereby :said relay is energized and sets said switch in open circuit position, and said electric motor is stopped.

5. A textile machine :as claimed in claim 4 having an insulated metallic supporting bar and an insulated metallic contact bar, .and wherein the contactors comprise a set .of independent rocking feelers adjacent to one another and pivotally mounted on said supporting her from which they freelyjhang out of contact with said contact bar, said feelers having :such :a contour that their adjacent edgesatleast over ,a part of their'length, extendlaterally'in a directionwhioh is at right angle to the bars, so that no thread can be completely located opposite to a space between two consecutive #feelers.

6. A textile machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said rocking feelers consist in U-shaped wire stirrups having a transverse portion connected to the limbs ofzs'aid avire'stirrups by a step portion on the one =han'd and'a laterally projecting portion on theotherhand, said step portion receiving the projection portion of the 'over the whole width of said bank, means for operatively connecting said pickup-roller with said feeding means, and means :for imparting a relative reciprocating 'movement between said guiding means and said pick up roller whereby in one osition'said banlrof threads is-adapted to engage the pick up roller, and in another position said bank of threads is 'remote from the pick up roller, andsaidmollerdefiects any picked up broken thread'fromsaid common plane, feeler means in the path of any deflected thread adapted to move in response to the tension exerted thereon by '-a deflected thread and an operative connection between saidfeeler means and said feedingmeansfor stopping said feeding means upon motion of said' feeler means.

8. In a loom in which thread moves in a normal path, feeler means disposeda'djacent the norm-a1 path of the thread, asuctiorr roller disposed adjacent the feeler means, said roller adapted to wind a broken thread thereon and pull said broken thread across the feeler means-to-rnove said feeler means, and'loom control means acts" ated by the feeler means.

9. In a loom having a-*thread-'traversing a normal path, a, movable feel-erbardisposed adjacent "said bar, a control switch associatedwith said feeler bar and movable therewith, said switch being open when the feeler bar is in normal position and closed when the feeler bar is moved from normal position by the broken thread, a main power switch, an arm for said main switch and having an operative position and a solenoid associated with said arm, said solenoid being in circuit with said control switch to be energized when said control switch is closed to move said main switch from its operative position, whereby the power to the loom is cut off.

10. In a loom having a thread traversing a normal path, feeler means disposed adjacent the normal path of the thread, moving means disposed adjacent the feeler means but out of the normal path of the thread, means on the moving means to grasp the end of a broken thread and pull it out of the normal path and across the feeler means to move said feeler means, a con,- trol switch associated with said feeler means and movable therewith, said switch being open when the feeler means is in normal position and closed when the feeler means has been moved from normal position by the broken thread, a main power switch, an arm for said main switch and having an operative position, a solenoid associated with said arm, said solenoid in circuit with said control switch to be energized when said control switch is closed to move said main switch arm from its operative position, whereby the power to the loom is out 01f.

11. In a loom having a thread traversing a normal path, feeler means disposed adjacent the normal path of the thread, a suction roller disosed adjacent the feeler means but out of the normal path of the thread, said roller being adapted to hold the end of a broken thread coming into engagement therewith and pull it out of the normal path and across the feeler means to move said feeler means, and control means actuated by the movement of the feeler means.

12. In a loom having a thread traversing a normal path, a movable feeler bar disposed adjacent the normal path of the thread, a suction roller moving in synchronism with the thread and disposed adjacent the feeler bar-but out of the normal path of the thread, said roller being adapted to grasp and hold the end of a broken thread coming into engagement therewith and to pull it out of the normal path and across the feeler bar to move said bar, and control means actuated by the movement of the feeler bar.

13. In a loom having a thread traversing a normal path, feeler means disposed adjacent the normal path of the thread, a suction roller disposed adjacent the feeler means but out of the normal path of the thread, said roller being adapted to grasp the end of a broken thread coming into engagement therewith and pull it out of the normal path and across the feeler means to move said feeler means, a control switch connected to said feeler means and movable therewith, said switch being open when the feeler means is in normal position and closed when the feeler means has been moved from normal position by the broken thread.

14. In a loom having a thread traversing a normal path, a movable feeler bar disposed adjacent the normal path of the thread, a suction roller moving in synchronism with the thread and disposed adjacent the fceler bar but out of the normal path of the thread, said roller being adapted to grasp the end of a broken thread coming into engagement therewith and to pull it out of the normal path and across the feeler bar to move said bar, a control switch associated with said feeler bar and movable therewith, said switch being open when the feeler bar is in normal position, and closed when the feeler bar is moved from normalposition by the broken thread.

15. In a loom having a thread traversing a normal path, feeler means disposed adjacent the normal path of the thread, a suction roller disposed adjacent the feeler means but out of the normal path of the thread, said roller being adapted to grasp the end of a broken thread coming into engagement therewith to pull it out of the normal path and across the feeler means to move said feeler means, a control switch connected to said feeler means and movable therewith, said switch being open when the feeler means is in normal position and closed when the feeler means has been moved from normal position by the broken thread, a main power switch, an arm for said main switch and having an operative position, a solenoid associated with said arm, said solenoid being in circuit with said control switch to be energized when said control switch is closed to move said main switch arm from its operative position, whereby power to the loom is cut mi.

16. In a loom having a thread traversing a normal path, a movable feeler bar disposed adjacent the normal path of the thread, a suction roller moving in synchronism with the thread and disposed adjacent the feeler bar but out of the normal path of the thread, said roller being adapted to grasp the end of a broken thread coming into engagement therewith and to pull it out of the normal path and across the feeler bar to move said bar, a control switch associated with said feeler bar and movable therewith, said switch being open when the feeler bar is in normal position and closed when the feeler bar is moved from normal position by the broken thread, a main power switch, an arm for said main switch and having an operative position, a solenoid associated with said arm, said solenoid being in circuit with said control switch to be energized when said control switch is closed to move said main switch from the operative position, whereby the power to the loom is cut off.

17. In a loom having a thread traversing a normal path, a suction roller adjacent the path of the thread and adapted to grasp and divert the path of the thread when it breaks and comes into engagement with the roller, feeler means disposed close to the normal path of the thread and adapted to be engaged and moved by the diverted thread, and control means associated with the feeler means to stop the loom when the feeler means is moved from its normal position. 

